Fred Penner

Frederick Ralph Cornelius "Fred" Penner, CM OM (born November 6, 1946) is a Canadian children's music performer who gives appearances throughout North America. His television show, Fred Penner's Place, aired for 30 minutes on CBC in Canada from 1985 to 1997, and was seen in the United States on the cable channel Nickelodeon from 1989 to 1992.

Life and career

Penner was born on November 6, 1946 to Lydia Agathe Penner (née Winters, 1913-2005) and Edward W. Penner (d. 1971). Penner had four siblings: one older sister Carol, one older brother Wesley, one younger brother Terry, and one younger sister Susan (d. 1970).

Penner was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. At the early age of four, Penner began making up songs while travelling on the bus with his mother. He taught himself how to play the guitar when he was in grade school, and performed in school choirs and pageants. Through his experience with his sister Susan's Down Syndrome, he recognized the therapeutic value of music.

Penner received his high school diploma at Kelvin High School, where he took lead roles in the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. After graduating from the University of Winnipeg with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and psychology, he spent time working with mentally and physically challenged children, using music to comfort and entertain. In 1977, he met choreographer and future wife Odette Heyn, with whom he started a children's dance theatre company. Penner accepted an offer to do a recording, which resulted in the album The Cat Came Back, which launched his career and established him as one of Canada's leading children's entertainers.